Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Security in Fragile States
This Policy Brief is based on the ideas which were exchanged during the September 2014 conference on Business and Human Security co-hosted by The Hague Institute and SPARK.
The pursuit of the UN Charter’s ambition of promoting international peace, security and fundamental rights informs the efforts of myriad civil society groups, international organizations and national and local authorities. However, these aspirations cannot be achieved by the public and non-profit sectors alone. For in many communities, the presence of the private sector is a determining factor for creating an environment for human development and social justice.
Two primary conditions for productive entrepreneurship are political stability and civil harmony. Without peace, human development through the creation of business community led growth, jobs, and broader livelihood opportunities cannot be advanced. Conversely, how private sector actors conduct their business operations can have a considerable impact on local social cohesion and levels of human security in the communities where they operate.